Newfoundfreedom

That's another very valid point. Singers of course are also musicians, as are composers and writers. Even some drummers hang around with musicians. 😂

Yeah I would agree with that in the context you say. Maybe it's a term that's over used. For example my band get together socially every Monday night for a few beers and often chat about all things musical. Someone overhearing wound say something along the lines of "oh, you're all musicians". Well in that context they've never heard us play, so we certainly haven't earned the title. Yet it's not wrong. It just makes me feel a little awkward and fraudulent sometimes.

Yeah I get what you're saying, but would that also apply if you only had a kick about with your mates at the weekend? Would you still describe yourself as a footballer? I suppose you could. In so much as you enjoy it and you play it, but it just somehow seems disingenuous to me.

It always makes me cringe when someone calls me a musician. Not because it's a term I find insulting, but because it's a moniker I don't feel I deserve. I'm a bass player, no problem with that. I'm not a very good one admittedly, but I can hold a tune and get through a few songs relatively unscathed and with a reasonable sense of timing. But the songs I've learned, for the main part I've learned verbatim by copying the original. I've even written a few basic songs just by doing what sounds right to my ear, but I know very little of the theory behind music or how and why it works. To me that's the difference between a bass player and a musician. So I was just wondering what other people's definition of "musician" is. At what point do you consider you became / will become one, if at all? Is it when you first pick up an instrument and master your first song? In which case was is musician when I played Little Donkey on recorder at 8 years old? I don't really think so. Is it when you earn money by playing music? I think there are probably many great musicians out there that never really make any money. Is it the point at which you are proficient enough to play along with other people? I guess I'm pretty much at that stage but still don't consider myself one. So what is it? What is that point at which a mere mortal becomes a "musician".

I would say that is true of whether or not you need one, certainly in so much as whether or not you "need" to play the lower ranges in your chosen repertoire. Whether or not you use one (outside of the above) is totally down to personal preference as far as I can see.

It's actually meaningless as is any phrase to describe a sound. At best it's a metaphor. We're all guilty of using certain words to try and describe something tonal but in reality is actually nonsense when you think about it. You could say for example "fat" "rich" or "heavy" which are equally meaningless yet somehow convey what we're taking about. As the tones we hear are totally subjective It's like trying to describe a colour to a blind person.

It means it's good for metal.

I keep telling myself I'll try a five string once I get the hang of four. Well it's 30 years since I first picked up a four string and I'm still only just finding my feet (to be fair I didn't play for about 28 of those 30 years) so at this point I think a fiver would just confuse matters. Especially as I don't actually "need" one, nothing we play is below E. The only time I'm actually tempted is when I see a fiver I like come up for sale at a good price. I nearly caved and bought a Schecter on here a few weeks ago. If it had been a four string I'd have snapped it up, but even then I couldn't quite convince myself that I needed a fiver.

It would look good hanging in my bar. Then again, so would Boris Johnson. Both are massively overvalued.

I've never really felt the need for one. I've got enough on with 4 strings. I get the convenience of being able to play the notes across the neck and move your fretting hand less, but where's the fun in that? It looks much more betterer if your hands is whizzing up and down the neck. I even do it when I'm playing an open E.

I actually think 6 year olds should be banned from playing bass. Purely because I'm sick of seeing 7 year olds that are better than me.

So this guy is selling "decoration only" basses for almost the same price as the same basses new and under warranty direct from Thomann? Seems like a bargain. 😕

Well I don't own a bass worth more than £300 so if I recommend something it's either because I like it or I've got the sh1ttest sponsorship deal in history.

I've been eyeing up the 4 string versions of these on Thomann for a while now. I'm really tempted. They look amazing for the price and the reviews are excellent. However, the listings above don't mention the Harley Benton (Thomann own brand) label but they're definitely the same instrument. So would someone care to enlighten me as to what a "Deko" is?

At that budget, Behringer. Buy direct from Thomann and get a 3 year warranty.

£230 + £37 postage! What's the point? Another couple of quid and you can buy new direct from Thomann.

Seek and Destroy by Metallica

Aren't they usually in a vacuum sealed pack inside the cardboard box to stop moisture and prolong the shelf life? If they're not in an air tight packet then I'd say there's definitely something dodgy.

No good for me. I can only wear 4 strap.

I'm finding the older I get the more this kind of thing boils my p!ss! I'm sick and tired of a societ that feels they have a right to be offended by everything, and more to the point that the rest of us should give a flying f@#* if and when they are. I honestly couldn't care less if a person is black, white, brown, blue,or sky blue pink with yellow dots. I also don't care if they're gay, straight, transgender or like to dress like Elvis in a blonde wig, but if I inadvertantly do something to offend one of these people, like maybe looking in their general direction or breathing too loudly, why do they then feel they have a right to speak for their whole "community" when claiming offence? The real irony is I'm far less tolerant now than I used to be for this very reason. This sound "person" should be sacked and never work in the industry again. Sorry, not sorry!

Harley Benton stuff is just ridiculously good value for money. Superb quality to price ratio. Although personally I much prefer this to the one posted above.... https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_bz_4000_nt.htm

Gretsch Junior Jet 2. Absolutely trounces anything else in the price range. It's a perfectly giggable bass with unbelievable build quality, looks great and sounds absolutely superb!

I've had this exact same thing. I don't get it. Surely it's easier to just bring the bloody parcel to the door that it is to faff about writing a card.

Well if you've only got the one you can probably have a whip round and pay him back for the ticket.

Why?! I'm afraid I just don't get it, and I never will. Why anyone wound pay a grand extra for a f#cked up looking bass is absolutely beyond my comprehension. I'd rather save a grand and f#ck it up myself through years of hard work and gigging. Maybe then I could sell it for a grand more than I paid for it?